From: Darrell128@aol.com
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 1998 05:20:36 EDT
Subject: NR 98046: RCA General Secretary: Don't Let Homosexuality Divide Us
NR #1998-046: Reformed Church in America General Secretary to General
Synod: Don't Let Homosexuality Divide Us
"No issue today has as much potential to spawn divisiveness, mistrust,
gossip, suspicion, and conflict in the church" as homosexuality, said General
Secretary Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson in his annual address to the
General Synod of the Reformed Church in America. That was Granberg-
Michaelson's response to the recent decision by one of the two RCA
seminaries, New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey, to rescind a
decision by its president, Dr. Norman Kansfield, to extend a one-year interim
appointment to Dr. Judith Wray as a professor of New Testament. While
Granberg-Michaelson acknowledged that Wray is "trained, qualified, an
excellent teacher," he also acknowledged that Wray is "living openly in a
committed relationship with another woman." Granberg-Michaelson called the
seminary decision a "mistake," warning that "it threatened to create a breach
of trust between the denomination and New Brunswick Theological Seminary."
Granberg-Michaelson urged denominational agencies and institutions not to
take actions conflicting with the RCA's stance "that the practicing
homosexual lifestyle is contrary to Scripture, while at the same time
encouraging love and sensitivity toward such persons as fellow human beings"
and asking delegates "to instruct this General Synod to refrain from
deliberative debate and policy decisions relating to homosexuality, as these
matters have already been thoroughly addressed by previous synods, and to
urge this same action upon the 1999 and 2000 General Synods." Granberg-
Michaelson's speech came only hours after a new business item was introduced
by Rev. Doug Van Bronkhorst, senior pastor of First Reformed Church in
Grandville. Van Bronkhorst objected to Wray's appointment and introduced a
motion that would prevent such actions in the future.
NR #1998-046: For Immediate Release:
Reformed Church in America General Secretary to General Synod: Don't Let
Homosexuality Divide Us
* Responds to Seminary Vote to Rescind Appointment of Lesbian Professor
by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer
United Reformed News Service
HOLLAND, MICH. (June 5, 1998) URNS - "No issue today has as much potential to
spawn divisiveness, mistrust, gossip, suspicion, and conflict in the church"
as homosexuality, said General Secretary Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson in
his annual address to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America.
"No issue has more capacity to confuse our focus, drain our energy, injure
our fellowship, and divert our mission than this one. No current issue can so
easily demoralize our meetings, paralyze our process, fuel our anxiety, and
cripple our confidence as this one."
That was Granberg-Michaelson's response to the recent decision by one of
the two RCA seminaries, New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey, to
rescind a decision by its president, Dr. Norman Kansfield, to extend a one-
year interim appointment to Dr. Judith Wray as a professor of New Testament.
While Granberg-Michaelson acknowledged that Wray is "trained, qualified, an
excellent teacher," he also acknowledged that Wray is "living openly in a
committed relationship with another woman."
Granberg-Michaelson called the seminary decision a "mistake," warning that
"it threatened to create a breach of trust between the denomination and New
Brunswick Theological Seminary." Granberg-Michaelson noted that "this action
prevents a potentially divisive conflict from erupting right now in the
denomination" but said "it still leaves us as a church with a crucial and
important question: how will we, the Reformed Church in America, choose to
address this issue, not only in this situation, but in the future?"
According to information obtained by United Reformed News Service, when
the seminary board of trustees rescinded Wray's appointment it also passed
accompanying motions stating "that the decision was made to preserve the
unity of the church of Christ" and "that the Board of Trustees asks the
General Synod to undertake the study of appropriate pastoral interaction with
homosexual people that was planned by the General Synod of 1994."
Granberg-Michaelson confirmed the first statement in his speech and made a
formal recommendation that General Synod "instruct the General Synod Council,
through its Congregational Services Committee, to help enable congregations
and classes to enter a process of intentional discernment concerning the
pastoral challenges raised by the issue of homosexuality over the next two
years, utilizing the study guide and other resources, in order to fulfill the
actions called for on this matter by the 1994 General Synod."
Granberg-Michaelson urged denominational agencies and institutions not to
take actions conflicting with the RCA's stance "that the practicing
homosexual lifestyle is contrary to Scripture, while at the same time
encouraging love and sensitivity toward such persons as fellow human beings."
The General Secretary also asked the delegates "to instruct this General
Synod to refrain from deliberative debate and policy decisions relating to
homosexuality, as these matters have already been thoroughly addressed by
previous synods, and to urge this same action upon the 1999 and 2000 General
Synods."
Granberg-Michaelson's speech came only hours after a new business item was
introduced by Rev. Doug Van Bronkhorst, senior pastor of First Reformed
Church in Grandville. Van Bronkhorst objected to Wray's appointment and
introduced a motion that would prevent such actions in the future.
According to RCA procedures, new business items must "include a well-
defined statement of the nature and purpose of the proposed business and of
the reasons for its presentation as new business rather than through the
church's assemblies, agencies, or commissions." At Saturday's session, the
synodical Committee on Reference will recommend whether Van Bronkhorst's
motion will be considered by synod, and if so, to which synodical advisory
committee it should be referred. The synodical Committee on Reference will
also process the recommendations by Granberg-Michaelson; RCA procedures allow
the General Secretary and General Synod President to propose specific
recommendations for action by synod that are ordinarily announced for the
first time on the first day of General Synod and then referred to the
appropriate committees for action.
Other than the report of the Committee on Reference, the RCA General Synod
isn't expected to make many decisions on Saturday. Most of the day will be
spent in meetings of advisory committees after an 8:15 a.m. opening worship
service.
Rather than beginning a synodical debate on homosexuality or what to do
about New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Granberg-Michaelson urged the
General Synod to "forge a new way, not of open warfare, not of feigned peace,
but of committed dialogue."
"These matters will not be resolved by more overtures, debates, and votes
at General Synod," said Granberg-Michaelson. "They now require pastoral
discernment rather than ongoing political debate. The context for these
discussions is the boards of elders of our congregations, and in the pastor's
studies."
Cross-References to Related Articles:
[No related articles on file]
Contact List:
Rev. E. Wayne Antworth, Director, RCA Stewardship & Communication Services
475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
O: (212) 870-2954 * FAX: (212) 870-2499
Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in
America
49 Yawpo, Oakland, NJ 07436
O: (212) 870-2845
Dr. Norman Kansfield, President, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
25 Seminary Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
O: (908) 247-5241 * H: (908) 249-1463
Rev. Douglas Van Bronkhorst, Senior Pastor, First Reformed Church
3060 Wilson Ave. SW, Grandville, MI 49418
O: (616) 534-5465 * H: (616) 532-7191
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